The Topeak X-Tool+ is a useful and sturdy tool that will cover most jobs with ease, and pretty good value too.

Pros: Well made, good range of bits, light

Cons: Won't cover all jobs

We mostly all carry a tool of some sorts when out on the road, and there's no shortage of choice in the market place either. This new offering from Topeak is aimed at those who only need to tweak the basics and don't want something too chunky or heavy to carry round.

The design is fairly standard and brings nothing new to the multi-tool table in that regard, but it does have a feel of quality about it thanks to the high grade materials used in the construction: a plastic body and chrome vanadium steel bits. These include the usual Allen key sizes – 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8mm – a Phillips head screwdriver and a Torx head.

topeak_x-tool_3.jpg

For the majority of road bike jobs it will cope just fine, stem and handlebar clamp bolts plus seatpost clamp being the usual on-road tweaks. A lot of bikes now are using the common T25 Torx bolts for a lot of applications; on my older bikes the only time I used this was for computer mounts. The screwdriver head I found was a little big for the only real application I had, which was derailleur limit screws – which can also be adjusted with a flat head screwdriver, which this doesn't have either.

In use, the steel bits were solid and showed no signs of rounding off, fitting snugly with very little twisting from the body of the tool, again the quality construction showing through. After a couple of weeks of use, the nut and bolt at either end that holds the tool together loosened off, but they do include a small detachable Torx/Allen key that can be used to re-tighten it. The only niggle I had was the detachable 8mm Allen attachment that sits on a post in the middle of the tool body – it was awkward to remove and even more fiddly to replace; you would likely end up putting it in your pocket if used at the roadside and potentially losing it.

topeak_x-tool_2.jpg

Value-wise I think it's pretty good: £12.99 isn't going to break the bank and it should last years, making a good investment. There are cheaper options but will they last as long? Unlikely in my view.

Its overall usefulness then isn't in doubt, but depending on how much you are willing to fix at the roadside it could leave you stuck – personally, I like a basic chain tool built in and it's nice to have extras such as integral tyre levers, a flat blade screwdriver and a quick-link holder which covers far more of the common jobs you will get when out. Topeak's own Hexus X has most of these plus a couple more bits and weighs just 60g more – although it is a full £10 more expensive.

If you are only after a light, basic tool, though, this is well worth a look.

Verdict

Relatively light and great build quality, with limited bits that cover most jobs but not all

road.cc test report

Make and model: Topeak X-Tool+

Size tested: 11 functions

Tell us what the product is for

Basic multi tool for roadside tweaks.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

ADDED FEATURES - self-tightening tool

ALLEN WRENCHES - 2 / 2.5 / 3 / 4 (2 pcs) / 5 / 6 / 8 mm

BODY - Engineering grade plastic

FUNCTIONS - 10

SCREW DRIVER - #2 Phillips

SIZE - 9.7 x 2.8 x 1.8 cm / 3.8' x 1.1' x 0.7'

TOOL MATERIAL - Chrome vanadium steel

TORX® WRENCH - T25

Rate the product for quality of construction:

9/10

It's a very solid bit of kit, high grade materials are used and it feels sturdy in the hand.

Rate the product for performance:

8/10

Although limited to keep the size and weight down, the variety of tools is enough to cope with just about all tweaking jobs on a road bike, the steel bits resistant to bending and rounding off, completing jobs with ease.

Rate the product for durability:

9/10

Again, the high quality materials mean it should last for years and there isn't a mark on it after weeks of use.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)

7/10

At 110g it isn't exactly weighty, there are lighter options available but I suspect maybe not as robust. Certainly unnoticeable in a saddle bag or tool bottle.

Rate the product for value:

8/10

For a well made and useful tool it's not bad value at £12.99, especially as it will last for ages.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

For the jobs it was used for it did perfectly well, mainly stem bolts and seatpost clamp, the Torx came in useful for my computer mount. I would have liked the screwdriver head a little smaller, though; it was a bit too big for derailleur limit screws.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Its quality and relatively low weight.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing really – I personally like to have a chain tool with me but this is designed as a minimal, lightweight unit so fits the bill.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

Useful, well-made tool that should last a few years, though you may need more bits to cover all jobs.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 46 Height: 190cm, 6'2 Weight: 185lb, 84kg

I usually ride: Boardman AirPro Di2 My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, sportives

Gerber 'cool tool' pisses all over this as do many others for less. Oh and 'high grade materials' then in the next breath state the body is plastic, fucking hilarious!

You have actually used the Topeak tool then?

I've used topeak before, however this is too much for what it offers compared to most other tools. Having a plastic resin body is not what I would describe as 'high grade material', not when you are wanting to sometimes put a lot of force through the tool or indeed if you drop it.

I have 4 different portable tools for specific roles, gerber cool tool (based around an adjustable spanner), zanzi tool which has 10 cycling functions plus a bottle opener and is made from bilet aluminium plus vanadium steel and weighs 21g, a specialized, which is made with high grade steel framework and tools, also an unbranded multi-tool that also has alu framework and vanadium steel components aside from the chain splitter. The only one to cost more was the Gerber but that has a lifetime warranty but is still working perfectly 20 years on.

Plastic framed tools are lower grade and as commented previously offers far fewer fucntions than others for less or same price.

Gerber 'cool tool' pisses all over this as do many others for less. Oh and 'high grade materials' then in the next breath state the body is plastic, fucking hilarious!

You have actually used the Topeak tool then?

I've used topeak before, however this is too much for what it offers compared to most other tools. Having a plastic resin body is not what I would describe as 'high grade material', not when you are wanting to sometimes put a lot of force through the tool or indeed if you drop it.

I have 4 different portable tools for specific roles, gerber cool tool (based around an adjustable spanner), zanzi tool which has 10 cycling functions plus a bottle opener and is made from bilet aluminium plus vanadium steel and weighs 21g, a specialized, which is made with high grade steel framework and tools, also an unbranded multi-tool that also has alu framework and vanadium steel components aside from the chain splitter. The only one to cost more was the Gerber but that has a lifetime warranty but is still working perfectly 20 years on.

Plastic framed tools are lower grade and as commented previously offers far fewer fucntions than others for less or same price.

Speaking from the experiece of someone who actually owns this tool and uses it (or at least an older itteration), I don't find the construction a problem at all. It has a metal body with plastic resin faces. It has been knocking around in the bottom of my pannier for years, I have dropped it numerous occasions and it has stood up to everything. I've had other multi-tools that have fallen apart, but I can't fault this one.

It's still too expensive for what it is and very limited in its functions to others for the same cost. THAT is the main problem, you personally aren't fussed by plastic bodied tools, I am, especially when metal bodied quality tools are less expensive AND offer more functions. These are facts and the only facts brought up about the tool compared to others.

It's still too expensive for what it is and very limited in its functions to others for the same cost. THAT is the main problem, you personally aren't fussed by plastic bodied tools, I am, especially when metal bodied quality tools are less expensive AND offer more functions. These are facts and the only facts brought up about the tool compared to others.

It is NOT plastic bodied though. it's main body is a very tough metal. it has a tough plastic fascia bonded to the main body (which actually probably help with the weight and preventing the tool from scratching anything in your bag). Just accept the reviewer might know what he is talking about when he says it is well built (they do this for a living).

It is NOT plastic bodied though. it's main body is a very tough metal. [...] Just accept the reviewer might know what he is talking about when he says it is well built (they do this for a living).

Given the reviewer clearly stated it was a plastic body, I think we need to consider the possibility that they're at least somewhat fallible. If they can be wrong about one thing, they can be wrong about others.

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